Seeking Closure: Syrian Families Demand Answers for Missing Loved Ones

International news section  24-12-2024

In the wake of Syria’s devastating conflict, countless families are grappling with the disappearance of their loved ones, longing for answers and justice.

In May 2012, 21-year-old Maysa Awad bid farewell to her family in Yarmouk, a bustling Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus. Moving to Damascus to live with her husband, Maysa was weeks away from giving birth. Her younger brother Amar and older sister Wafaa accompanied her, leaving behind their parents, Nasra and Ahmed, and two teenage brothers, 19-year-old Mohamed and 17-year-old Ahmed. That farewell would mark the last time Maysa saw most of her family.

Shortly after Maysa left, the Syrian regime imposed a harsh blockade on Yarmouk, aiming to cut off supplies to opposition fighters. This brutal tactic devastated civilians, forcing tens of thousands, including Maysa’s family, into starvation.

For six harrowing months, the residents of Yarmouk endured extreme deprivation, with little access to food, water, or medicine. By December, whispers of safe passage to neighboring areas lured many, including the Awad family, to attempt escape.

At a regime checkpoint, military personnel ordered women and girls to return to the camp, while men and boys were detained. Moments later, the women heard gunfire from behind.

Speaking from a hospital in Damascus, where her mother was receiving dialysis, Maysa recounted her family’s ordeal. Her mother, who lost half her body weight during the siege, represents one of thousands mourning loved ones who disappeared or were killed during Syria’s war.

Maysa believes her father and brothers were among 300 people executed at the “Reno checkpoint” near Yarmouk. She hopes investigators will examine mass graves in the area and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) estimates that over 231,000 people were killed in the conflict, with the regime responsible for most of the deaths. Victims were subjected to indiscriminate bombings, starvation tactics, extrajudicial killings, and brutal torture.

The al-Assad regime meticulously documented its operations, leaving behind a trove of records in government buildings, intelligence centers, and prisons. Experts stress the importance of safeguarding these documents and mass grave sites to ensure accountability.

“Protecting the chain of custody for these documents is vital,” said Veronica Bellintani of the Syrian Legal Development Programme. She cautioned against mishandling evidence, as any gaps could compromise its validity in court.

During the war, citizen journalists and activists used social media to document atrocities, making Syria one of the first conflicts to unfold online. However, much of this content has been removed due to platform policies.

Despite these challenges, survivors like Maysa persist. She has visited morgues and pushed for investigations into the Reno checkpoint. Others, like Abu Tarek, who lost his son Ibrahim to a car bomb in 2012, echo the call for justice.

Maysa remains resolute in her pursuit of answers. “Someone knows what happened. Someone knows their names. They must be held accountable.”

The struggle for truth and accountability continues as Syrians seek to heal from the wounds of war and honor the memory of those lost.